USD GAINS ON FED WALLER’S ‘NO RUSH’ COMMENT BUT MAY STRUGGLE TO EXTEND FURTHER – SCOTIABANK

USD rally is gaining traction. Economists at Scotiabank analyze Greenback’s outlook.

USD firms after Waller says “no rush” on rates

Comments from Fed Governor Waller (voter and a relative hawk) have injected more volatility in the markets ahead of the long weekend. In his remarks, the governor stressed patience on the policy outlook, noting several times that there was ‘no rush’ to lower rates. He said recent data was disappointing and that he would want to see ‘at least a couple of months’ of improvement before easing.

Waller did echo Chair Powell’s post FOMC comments that lower rates would be appropriate later this year. But he added that it is appropriate ‘to reduce the overall number of rate cuts or push them further into the future’ after the recent inflation data. 

The USD has advanced, stretching gains beyond recent range highs in some cases, yields have firmed up a little and spreads have moved marginally in the USD’s favour in response to the comments – but not obviously enough to support further, significant USD gains.